Marine Energy Fellowship

Marine Energy Fellowship is sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Supports individuals pursuing advanced degrees in marine energy research.

Information for Postgraduate Applicants | Marine Energy Fellowship Recent graduates who have received their bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree within the last 24 months are eligible to apply to the Marine Energy Fellowship: Postgraduate Track. Program details and applicant information are below. Contact ORISE with any questions or inquiries.

A complete application consists of: Project description: The project description should be a maximum of two pages and summarize the applicant's project aims and learning objectives at the host facility, how the project supports the mission of the host facility, role of the host facility and mentor, timeline, expected outcomes, and relevance to H2O priority research areas for marine energy.

Academic records showing that the applicant is either currently pursuing a degree, or the degree was recently obtained from a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral program. If currently pursuing at the time of application, the degree must be conferred by the appointment start date. Transcripts or copies of the student academic records provided by the applicant from internal institutional systems may be submitted.

Letter of Support from proposed mentor at host facility. The letter must demonstrate knowledge of and concurrence with the proposed project description and agreement to host the applicant if an appointment is offered. Professional summary detailing knowledge, skills, and background in an area aligned with marine energy.

A current resume/CV (2-page limit) All documents must be in English or include an official English translation. Documents sent by email, postal mail, or fax will not be considered. All supporting materials must be uploaded as PDF files so the document can be searched by Zintellect's search engine.

Scanned items are not optimal for search engines. PDF must not require special certificates or passwords to open. Max file size is 10MB.

Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and compliance before moving forward to the merit review and final selection. Applications will be collected in Zintellect and will undergo an eligibility check by ORISE, after which a merit review will be conducted by DOE. Skills-Research Alignment (50%) Are the applicant’s academic background, skills, and experience appropriate to conduct the proposed research?

Does the proposed research have the potential to make a significant contribution to the applicant’s professional development? Relevance to Marine Energy (25%) Is the proposed research a viable concept or topic relevant to marine energy? Does the proposed research demonstrate a solid understanding of scientific and technical challenges in the field?

Support of Host Facility (25%) Can the proposed host facility provide the necessary resources and mentorship to support the proposed research? Are the professional interests of the mentor and applicant aligned? Are both parties committed to having a supportive and productive relationship?

To qualify for the Marine Energy Fellowship Program: Postgraduate Track, you must meet all eligibility criteria outlined below: U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident Recent graduate with a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree from an accredited U.S. college or university. The degree must have been obtained within 24 months of the appointment start date.

Conducted research, development, and/or testing in an area aligned with H2O mission and marine research priorities. Applications are considered without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or covered veteran’s status. Marine Energy Fellowship Program applications open twice a year for summer and fall appointments.

Monday, September 8, 2025 Summer 2026 Applications Close Friday, December 12, 2025, at 5pm ET Fall 2026 Applications Close Friday, March 27, 2026 at 5pm ET Fall: August – October 2026 Participants in the Marine Energy Fellowship Program will receive: Competitive monthly stipend Health insurance supplement Travel and education allowance up to $10,000 Limited tuition reimbursement.

Inbound-outbound transportation allowance up to $4,000 may be provided for eligible candidates temporarily relocating and/or traveling to the hosting facility. Fellows and mentors are responsible for coordinating 12-month appointment start and end dates for research to be conducted virtually, hybrid, or onsite. Appointments are subject to completion of the arrangements with host facility.

Expectations for participants in the Marine Energy Fellowship Program: Postgraduate Track Conduct research at the H2O-approved host facility virtually, hybrid, or onsite. It is imperative that you do not make obligations that may interrupt your research project during the appointment period. Adhere to ethical guidelines set by DOE.

Exhibit professionalism, demonstrate integrity and good judgment, and complete all research project objectives as identified in your research plan and by the host facility. Participants in this program are required to submit a final report detailing their fellowship experience, and to complete a Post-Appointment Survey allowing ORISE to assess impact and effectiveness of the program.

This program is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). ORISE is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) asset managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through a contract between ORAU and DOE. You will be considered a program participant and will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOE, or hosting facility.

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